Coin-counter.



No. 788,585. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905. J. M. JOHNSON.

COIN COUNTER.

APPLICATION FILED saw. 22. 1902.

3 BHEETSBHBET 1.

No. 788,585. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

J. M. JOHNSON.

COIN COUNTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1902.

3 SHBETSSHEBT 2.

No. 788.585. Patented May 2, 1905.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAY M. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO COIN COUNTING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COIN-"COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,58 5, dated May 2, 1905. Application filed September 22, 1902. Serial No. 124.284.

T "1/2/07", it y (IO/110M711! secured below and to the bed-plate and is pro- Beit known that I, JAY M. JOHNSON, acitivided with an inwardly-directed arm a, havzen of the United States, and a resident of the ing a bearing a thereon in axial alinement city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and with a central aperture extending through 5 State of Illinois, have invented certain new said bed-plate. A rotative shaft B is jourand useful Improvements in Coin-Counters; naled in said bearing and in the aperture of and I do hereby declare that the following is the bed-plate, and a beveled gear 7) is rigidly a full, clear, and exact description of the same, secured on said shaft below the bed-plate and reference being had to the accompanying intermeshing with a beveled pinion 7) on the 10 drawings, and to the letters of reference shaft B, which is journaled in said brackets marked thereon, which form a part of this at a right angle with the shaftB and provided specification. externally with a crank or other means for This invention relates to improvements in rotating the same. coin-counters of the class described in my Rigidly secured on the shaft B and fitting I 5 application for patent filed on the 18th day of closely to the upper surface of the bed-plate lVIarch, 1901, Serial No. 51.757. is the coin-disk C, provided on its periphery The object of the invention is to provide a with radial teeth a, as shown in Figs. 1, 4t, and

simplified construction of greatdurability and 10. Said coin-disk between said te"th is cut one in which clogging of the coins or other away to provide partly-circular notches cor- 20 articles or a false count of the same is renresponding with the curvature of the coins to dered impossible at whatever speed the mechbe received therein. The thickness of the anism is driven. coin-disk C is approximately equal to that of The invention consists in the matters herethe coin to be actuated thereby, and the forinafter described, and more fully pointed out ward edge of each of the teeth is beveled on 25 and defined in the appended claims. the upper side, shown in Fig. 10, thereb In the drawings, Figure l isatop plan view reducing said front edge of the teeth to a of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 thickness not greater than the thinnest coin of is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. the denomination the given machineis adapted 3 is a fragmentary plan showing parts reto count. Obviously the coin-disk may be se- 30 moved. Fig. :l: is an enlarged plan view with cured on the shaft in any of several ways, as

thereceivingtray or pan broken away. Fig. shown, however, and preferably a cylindrie 3 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4: and collar D is rigidly secured concentrically with showing the registering device in elevation. and on the upper side of the coin-disk. The Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4. teeth 0 extend beyond the periphery of the 3 5 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section of the same, collar for their entire length, as shown in Fig.

' affording an inner View in elevation of the 4, whereby the vertical edge of the collar and 5 separating-blade. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragthe flange (4 form the Walls fora circular track mentary vertical section of the separatingor channel extending aroundthe machine and blade and one of the teeth of the coin-disk. adapted to receive the coins and into which 40 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the separatingthe teeth 0 of the coin-disk project for their blade. Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary entire length. Said collar is bored to receive detail of the coin-carrying wheel. the end of the shaft Band is secured to said As shown in said drawings, said coin-connter shaft by a set-screw or other suitable means. comprises a bed-plate A, circular in form and Said collar is cored out on its upper side to 4 5 having thereon the circular upwardly-directed reduce weight, and conveniently the upper end marginal flange a rigidly secured thereto near of the shaftB is reduced in size and threaded. 9 5 the periphery of the bed-plate and forming A covering-plate (Z is fitted over the end of the therewith a circular pan in which is journaled shaft and secured on the top of the collar by the coin-actuating means. A bracket A is means of a nut d.

Secured upon a laterally-extending projection (0 01 the bed-plate is the registerE, which may be of any desired kind or type and which, as shown, has provided on the outer end of its shaft, with abeveled pinion e, meshing with a corresponding beveled pinion e, the shaft e which projects above said projection a and is provided above the same with a registeringwheel E, having teeth on its periphery, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and which projects into the path of the moving coins as the same are swept along to the discharge-orifice (indicated in dotted lines at K on Fig. 4) by the teeth 0 of the coin-disk. The teeth on the registering-wheel E are spaced a sufficient distance apart and are so positioned with respect to the path of the coin as to insure each coin movingsaid registering-plate wheel in passing sutficiently to indicate or count one on the register. The plate 6 forms the base for the register and fits over the registering-wheel, as shown in Fig. 4, entirely covering and concealing the same from view and effectually protecting the same from dust, dirt, or improper interference.

Rigidly connected with the base-plate A, opposite the crank, is the receiving-pan F, which, as shown, is metallic and provided with upwardly-extending sides which open through the side a of the machine. Said pan may be of any capacity, but preferably is sufficiently large to hold a large quantity of coin. The pan, as shown, is supported upon a base f, which is of suflicient weight to serve as a counterbalance for the weight of the machine when said pan is supported upon a table, desk, or the like. At the point where the side wall of the pan opens through the wall a of the machine the open space provided is sufficient to permit coinsin quantities to be drawn from the pan upon the teeth of the coin-dislnas means are provided for separating the coin and arranging each in engagement with a tooth, so that as the coin is swept past the registering-wheel but a single coin is carried by each tooth. This is in part accomplished by brushes (1?, G, G and G which are arranged in the channel in the order named between the point where the coin enters the channel and the registering-wheel. Each of said brushes consists of a downwardly-depending plate or blade g, pivotally engaged upon a horizontal pintle g, secured in the wall and the inner end of which extends close to the collar D. A spring g is engaged on each pintle and acts to hold the plate or blade carried thereon in a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, but permits the depending ends of the blades to be pushed rearwardly by the coins as they pass beneath the same. The length of the blade G is such that the lower margin thereof is elevated some distance above the coin-disk, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby permitting several coins, if necessary, to pass beneath the same. The succeeding brushes G, G, and G, however, gradually approach the coin-disk until, as shown, the lower margin of the brush G extends so close to the disk as to prevent a coin passing beneath the same unless carried between the teeth of said disk.

In advance of the brush Gr is a separatingblade H, which, as shown, consists of a hori- Zontal plate of steel or the like curved concentrically with the coin-channel and fitting closely in said channel and entirely covering the point of contact of the coin with the teeth of the registeringclisk and also the orifice K, through which the coins are discharged into the bag 1. The rear edge of the blade is beveled downwardly, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, and brought to a relatively sharp edge, and

the inner side of the same is cutaway tangent with the collar D and terminates in a sharp point at the wall a, so that should one of said teeth carry more than one coin past the brush G the edge of the uppermost of said coin engaging upon the edge of the separating-blade will slide up over the beveled surface.

Obviously, owing to the construction described when in operation, the coin-disk should always rotate in the same direction, and to prevent a careless operator accidently or intentionally reversing the rotation of the coindisk and permitting coins to escape from the machine without registering a stop it is provided between the discharge-orifice and the opening into the pan. Said stop consists of a pin rigidly secured on the base-plate and projecting upwardly beneath said separating plate and so positioned as to permit the teeth 0 to clear the same as the disk is rotated, but so near the extremities of said teeth that should the direction of the coin-disk be changed or reversed a coin engaged by one of said teeth would jam against said stop, thereby locking the disk from rotation.

The operation is as follows: Supporting the machine upon a table, desk, or the like, the weight of said pan F serves as a counterbalance for the coin-counting, actuating, and counting mechanism. The coins are dumped into the pan in any desired quantity and a bag or other receiving means supported below the discharge-aperture, as shown in Fig. 5, preferably on a downwardly-extending sleeve extending below said aperture and which may be provided with outwardly-extending pins or hooks to permit the coin-bag to be engaged over the same. Rotating the coin-disk in the direction of the arrow L, (shown on Figs. 1 and 4,) the coins are drawn into the machine into position to be engaged by the teeth 0 and are swept successively beneath the brushes G, Gr, G and G which continually act to force the coins rearwardly against the rotation of the wheel and aid in directing the coin into the spaces between the teeth, the rotation of the collar preventing clogging. The last brush G which extends close to the coin-disk, together with the inclined end of the separatingplate and the bevel on the point edge of each tooth, insure the separation of the coins until each tooth carries but a single coin. The coins sweptbeneath said separating-blade are successivel y brought into engagement with the teeth of the registering-wheel, each actuating the same to produce one count on the register and after actuating the register successively drop into the orifice K to the bag. Obviously having observed the number registered previous to the beginningof the countingoperation the difference between the same and the highest number registered will be the correct count. As before stated, while the coin-disk is free to rotate in either direction when no coins are engaged thereby the stop it prevents any coins being carried into the chute without having first passed the registering-Wheel. Obviously said machines may be adapted for coins of any desired size or shape and may, if preferred, be constructed in sets, each adapted to count a particular size or denomination of coin, or, if preferred, each machine may be provided with several different coin-disks and different sizes of registering-wheels, permitting the device to be used interchangeably for several different sizes of coins.

Obviously many details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a rotative registeringwheel, of a register actuated thereby, a rotative toothed feed-wheel lying in the same plane with the registering-wheel and adapted to engage a coin With each tooth and to move the same immediately against the registeringwheel, and a downwardly-beveled forwardlyinclined portion on the front of each tooth.

2. The combination with registering means, of a rotative coin-disk moving in operative relation therewith, teeth on the coin-disk spaced a distance apart adapted each to engage a sepa rate coin and resilient brushes yieldingly supported above the teeth of the coin-disk, and acting to direct a single coin into engagement with each tooth.

In a coin-counting machine the combination with registering means, of a toothed rotative feed-wheel, a portion of each tooth being reduced in thickness to approximately that of the thinnest coin of the denomination to be counted, a plurality of brushes arranged around the periphery of the wheel one of which extends close to the upper surface of the teeth and stationary means in advance of the registering means acting to permit but one coin to be passed to the registering means by a single tooth.

4c. The combination with a base having an mpwardly-opening peripheral track, of a coindisk rotative in the bottom of the base and provided with a plurality of thin-edged radial teeth projecting into the track and each adapted to engage a single coin or the like, resilient brushes supported above and extending into proximity with the upper surface of the teeth, a register, a registering-wheel operatively connected therewith, means adapted to prevent reverse rotation of the disk and a separator-blade in close contact with the upper surface of said teeth.

5. The combination with a base, of an annular upwardly-opening passage located near the periphery thereof, a coin-disk, a plurality of thin-edged radial teeth on said disk extending into said passage, 9. receiving-tray connected with the base and opening into said passage, means for rotating the coin-disk, a register positioned at one side of the base, means extending into said passage adapted to actuate the register, a separator-bladelocated above and in close proximity with the teeth of the coin-disk acting to permit but a single coin to be carried beneath the same by each tooth into position to actuate the register, an exit-orifice in the base beyond the register and a stop positioned on the opposite side of the exit-apertu re from the register and acting to prevent reverse rotation of the coin-disk with coins therein.

6. The combination with a base provided with dischargeaperture extending therethrough, of a rotatable coin-disk journaled in said base, thin-edged teeth thereon, brushes located above the teeth and extending close to the surface of the same, a register and actuating means therefor positioned to be successively engaged by the coin when carried past the same by said teeth.

7. The combination with a base-plate, of a rotatable coin-disk journaled therein, means for rotating the same, radial thin-edged teeth on said coin-disk, an annular track on said base into which the teeth extend, an exit-aperture in the bottom of said track, a register positioned in advance of the exit-aperture, means operated by the passage of coins past the same for actuating the register, pivoted brushes supported on the base and extending varying distances from the upper surface of the teeth, means for delivering coins to be counted to the teeth of the coin-disk and a stop acting to permit the coin-disk with coins therein to be rotated in but one direction.

8. A coin-disk for the purpose specified comprising a plate of metal or the like, teeth on the periphery of the disk, the maximum thickness of said teeth being equal to the maximum thickness of the coin to be counted, and the front edge of each tooth being reduced in thickness to correspond approximately with the thickness of thin or worn coin.

9. In a coin-counter, the combination with a rotative coin-disk, of radial teeth thereon adapted to engage coin or the like having the front edge reduced in thickness, a separatingblade positioned above the teeth and in close proximity therewith and having the upper surface thereof beveled downwardly at the end directed against the flow of the coins.

10. In a device of the class described the combination with a coin-disk having radial thin-edged teeth thereon, of a collar extending approximately to the base of the teeth and rigidly secured to and rotatable with the disk and a plurality of brushes located above and extending varying distances from the upper surface of the teeth, each brush comprising a plate and a spring holding said plate normally in vertical position.

11. In a device of the class described, a toothed rotative registering-wheel, registering means actuated thereby, a toothed feed- Wheel acting to engage a coin or the like with each tooth andicarry the same immediately against and past the teeth of the registering- Wheel, and means for directing the coin into the teeth of said feed-wheel.

12. In a device of the class described the combination with a toothed horizontally-rotatable feed-wheel, of a peripheral passage surrounding the same, means for delivering coins to be counted into said passage into position for each successive tooth to engage a coin, means for distributing the coins in said passage, and a toothed registering-wheel against successive teeth of which the coins are carried by the feed-wheel and a registering device thereon.

13. In a device of the class described the combination with a closed casing, of a toothed horizontally-revoluble feed-wheel therein, a peripheral passage surrounding the said feedwheel, means for delivering coins into said passage in position for each tooth of the feedwheel to engage a separate coin, means for distributing the coins in said passage, a toothed registering-wheel actuated by the moving coin and a register connected therewith.

1 1. In a coin-counter, the combination with arotative feed-wheel having a toothed periphery adapted to engage the coins and receive the same fiatwise within its interdental spaces, of a toothed rotating counter-wheel for a registering mechanism adapted to mesh with said feed-wheel through the medium of a passing coin interposed directly between the same, and a plurality of brushes adapted to prevent clogging-of the coins in the feed-wheel.

15. In coin-counters, the combination with the rotary feed-wheel having a toothed periphery arranged to selectively admit separate coins from an indiscriminate group and to seat the same flatwise within its interdental spaces, of a register and an actuating device therefor, operated by said feed-wheel through the medium of a passing coin interposed immediately between the same, and a plurality of resilient brushes in close relation to the teeth of said feed-wheel.

16. In coin-counters, the combination with the rimmed pan, of a rotary feed-wheel located at the base thereof, and peripherally toothed to selectively admit separate coins from an indiscriminate group, and to seat the same flatwise within its interdental spaces, of a toothed, rotating counter-wheel for the register mechanism, in mesh with the feed-wheel, substantially at the plane thereof, through the medium of the passing coin interposed directly between the same, and means adapted to regulate the feeding of said coins.

17. In coin-counters the combination with the rimmed pan, andwith the horizontal rotary feed-wheel located at the base thereof and peripherally toothed to selectively admit separate coins from an indiscriminate group, and to seat the same flatwise within its interdental spaces, of the cut-0E or separating blade positioned above the teeth in said wheel, in close proximity therewith, and a toothed rotative counter-Wheel for the registering mechanism located beyond said cut-off, and in mesh with said feed-wheel, substantially at the plane thereof, through the medium of the passing coin, interposed immediately between the wheels.

18. In coin-counters, the combination with the fore-tray and the rimmed pan having side inlets therefrom, of a rotative feed-wheel located at the panbottom and peripherally toothed to receive the coins flatwise and edge on from said tray, the register mechanism, and the actuator therefor directly operated by said feed-wheel through the medium of the passing coin interposed directly between said actuator and said feed-Wheel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAY M. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

G. W. HILLS, A. C. ODELL. 

